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Capital Games
Let the games begin... Former Los Angeles Police officer Steve Miller has gone from walking a beat in the City of Angels to joining the rat race as an advertising executive. He knows how cut-throat the industry can be, so when his boss tells him that he's in direct competition with a newcomer from across the pond for a coveted account he's not surprised...then he meets Mark Richfield. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth and fashion-model good looks, Mark is used to getting what he wants. About to be married, Mark has just nailed the job of his dreams. If the determined Brit could just steal the firm's biggest account right out from under Steve Miller, his life would be perfect. When their boss sends them together to the New Mexican desert for a team-building retreat the tension between the two dynamic men escalates until in the heat of the moment their uncontrollable passion leads them to a sexual experience that neither can forget. Will Mark deny his feelings and follow through with marriage to a women he no longer wants, or will he realize in time that in the game of love, sometimes you have to let go and lose yourself in order to really win.
268 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2007
15 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
G.A. Hauser
269 books514 followersAbout the Author Award-winning author G.A. Hauser was born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA and attended university in New York City. She moved to Seattle, Washington where she worked as a patrol officer with the Seattle Police Department. In early 2000 G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began her writing in earnest and published her first book, In the Shadow of Alexander. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has written over eighty novels, including several best-sellers of gay fiction. GA is also the Executive Producer for her first feature film, CAPITAL GAMES. For more information on other books by G.A., visit the author at her official website. www.authorgahauser.com G.A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2010, 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, and Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, Best Author 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 3, 2011
This was a book I read early in my m/m period and to this day have not really run into a character I disliked as much as Mark. He is a spoiled, arrogant asshole. He uses people as he wants with no regard of their feelings or wishes. I have read other books that have him When Adam Met Jackwhich I loved. However the character of Mark was still as deplorable in that book as he was in this one.
There are other books in the series I would be interested in reading, especially the one about Mark's son and Angel Loveday's son but I can't bear to read any more about this egocentric meglomaniac.
There are other books in the series I would be interested in reading, especially the one about Mark's son and Angel Loveday's son but I can't bear to read any more about this egocentric meglomaniac.
December 2, 2013
UPDATED DECEMBER 2, 2013: Look what I got in the mail today!
OK, so the book wasn't a M/M romance lover's perfect dream... It was a bit far-fetched and a little hooky and drama-queeny. And MC Mark really did a number on his female fiancee and male best friend, but this is gonna make a damn good movie! *claps*
This book was made into a movie and the DVD will be released this December 2013. Here is a link to the trailer and you can visit the official website. BIG FUN!
OK, so the book wasn't a M/M romance lover's perfect dream... It was a bit far-fetched and a little hooky and drama-queeny. And MC Mark really did a number on his female fiancee and male best friend, but this is gonna make a damn good movie! *claps*
This book was made into a movie and the DVD will be released this December 2013. Here is a link to the trailer and you can visit the official website. BIG FUN!
Read
April 10, 2009G.A. Hauser has to have a kink for English brat... and if she continues at writing so beautiful stories she will manage to pass me her kink!
Steve is a young executive at an advertising firm. He is a very successful man and till now he has had not interest in men (even if he has fantasized about a porn actor who performed in gay film when he was still a teen). Instead he is still mourning on his former girlfriend, a beautiful and strong-head Afro-American woman, who has dumped him with no apparent reason. And now the new guy on the firm, an handsome Brit block, charming and outspoken, apparently is on the good way to stole him an important contract he has worked so hard to obtain.
Mark has spent all his life to claim to all the world he is not gay. Too handsome for his own good, first his abusive father has tried to take off him the "queerness", then during the college he has avoided the advance of his gay roommate, and best friend, and then during his first work, he was obliged to quit cause all the innuendo from the colleagues about him gay. And now he is about to marrying a girl he no more loves, and maybe he has never loved, only cause it seems to complicate to stop the flow.
But when Steve and Mark meet, better crash, the sparks fly and the sex seems inevitable, and when happens is so good! Steve and Mark are two young stud in heat. It seems impossible not to touch, and then they work good as a team and so neither at work it will be a problem if they are a couple. Steve wants Mark and wants him in his life forever, but Mark is too bound to duty and even if he craves Steve's touch, everytime he tries to quit with his fiance, the courage seems to lack.
Steve and Mark are very intensive characters: they fight, they fuck, they love and they cry, but I have never had of them a feminine perception, they are all male and very sexy. I don't know if they are the female fantasy of how we women want to imagine two male in love, but I like them very much. Steve is in love and Steve has no problem to say it aloud; Steve lusts for Mark and Steve has Mark where he wants and when he wants. Mark is in love with Steve, but he is not the perfect man who can, without second thoughts, drop everything and embrace his new "gay" future. They fight and Mark seduces Steve not with words but with his body, because he loves and he aches to be far from Steve.
Capital Games is a novel who has aroused and satisfied me.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/21...
Steve is a young executive at an advertising firm. He is a very successful man and till now he has had not interest in men (even if he has fantasized about a porn actor who performed in gay film when he was still a teen). Instead he is still mourning on his former girlfriend, a beautiful and strong-head Afro-American woman, who has dumped him with no apparent reason. And now the new guy on the firm, an handsome Brit block, charming and outspoken, apparently is on the good way to stole him an important contract he has worked so hard to obtain.
Mark has spent all his life to claim to all the world he is not gay. Too handsome for his own good, first his abusive father has tried to take off him the "queerness", then during the college he has avoided the advance of his gay roommate, and best friend, and then during his first work, he was obliged to quit cause all the innuendo from the colleagues about him gay. And now he is about to marrying a girl he no more loves, and maybe he has never loved, only cause it seems to complicate to stop the flow.
But when Steve and Mark meet, better crash, the sparks fly and the sex seems inevitable, and when happens is so good! Steve and Mark are two young stud in heat. It seems impossible not to touch, and then they work good as a team and so neither at work it will be a problem if they are a couple. Steve wants Mark and wants him in his life forever, but Mark is too bound to duty and even if he craves Steve's touch, everytime he tries to quit with his fiance, the courage seems to lack.
Steve and Mark are very intensive characters: they fight, they fuck, they love and they cry, but I have never had of them a feminine perception, they are all male and very sexy. I don't know if they are the female fantasy of how we women want to imagine two male in love, but I like them very much. Steve is in love and Steve has no problem to say it aloud; Steve lusts for Mark and Steve has Mark where he wants and when he wants. Mark is in love with Steve, but he is not the perfect man who can, without second thoughts, drop everything and embrace his new "gay" future. They fight and Mark seduces Steve not with words but with his body, because he loves and he aches to be far from Steve.
Capital Games is a novel who has aroused and satisfied me.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/21...
July 6, 2011
It just wasn't working out for me. I did read 48% of the book (until chapter 10) when I finally begged off. Steve, a straight man, fell in love with Mark, a closeted gay man, way too quickly and with little emotional/personal issue or questioning of his sudden feelings. Then Mark barely reluctantly accepts these feelings and starts a secret relationship? Maybe you have to be in the mood for it, but it was too outlandish for me at the moment. With a bit more exposition or true conflict, I'd probably enjoy it more, but as is, I was unable to go further even though it kinda is a book that's still entertaining enough to continue if I were in the mood.
March 15, 2013
HOLY HELL!! SHE'S RELEASING A MOVIE ON THIS ONE. HURRY, HURRY,!! CHECK OUT THE TRAILER ON HER WEBSITE.
November 1, 2012
Tolerable but unexceptional
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- Doesn’t go off the deep end with the sex. It’s light, it’s fun, it’s not terribly detailed, and it doesn’t take up the majority of the story.
- Appearances by characters from various other Hauser books (see list at the bottom of this review). The universe she’s creating is a lot of fun, particularly if you’ve read any of the books that the one you’re currently reading intersects with.
- I enjoyed the interactions between Steve and his sister and brother-in-law. I had begun to despair that Hauser was incapable of creating a multi-dimensional female character, but there is hope, as Steve’s sister proves. And I liked very much the scene in which he comes out to her.
CONS:
- The characters aren’t terribly likeable. At least, not the whole way through the book. Mark is (at times) despicable and pathetic; Steve is (sometimes) gutless--although I cheered up when he FINALLY told Mark to stop torturing him and either break off the engagement or leave Steve alone; Jack, Steve’s friend, is whiny and selfish; the guys’ co-workers are unbelievably nosy; and Sharon, Steve’s fiancée, is just plain awful.
- Didn’t believe the characters’ attraction for each other. They dislike each other at the beginning. Okay. They can hate each other’s guts and still be attracted to each other, but Hauser never says anything about that. It’s all frostiness and daggers and resentment and disgust…and then they get stranded in the desert one night and it’s cold, and WHAM, they can’t keep their hands off of each other and the next minute they’re having the hottest, dirtiest sex of their lives and they can’t get enough from then on.
- Steve falls in love way too fast. I understand that there are people who fall in love after one date (or, more accurately here, one session of sex), but I simply didn’t believe it this time. At all.
- Mark’s accent (or I suppose I should say ‘vocabulary’) is way off. He has some British heritage, but he was raised in the States, so his English accent is supposedly slight but eloquent. But quite a few of the things he says are more in line with a Cockney (or Irish) accent than the high-sounding English of Eton: he sometimes uses “me” instead of “my,” for example (“He’s me best mate”). And he says “bullocks” numerous times when it should be “bollocks”--plus, I had a hard time believing someone who has lived for years in the States would have held onto such a singularly British curse word.
Overall comments: I didn’t hate it, but I was disappointed in several different aspects of the story. I found the book just mediocre all around.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS:
- Doesn’t go off the deep end with the sex. It’s light, it’s fun, it’s not terribly detailed, and it doesn’t take up the majority of the story.
- Appearances by characters from various other Hauser books (see list at the bottom of this review). The universe she’s creating is a lot of fun, particularly if you’ve read any of the books that the one you’re currently reading intersects with.
- I enjoyed the interactions between Steve and his sister and brother-in-law. I had begun to despair that Hauser was incapable of creating a multi-dimensional female character, but there is hope, as Steve’s sister proves. And I liked very much the scene in which he comes out to her.
CONS:
- The characters aren’t terribly likeable. At least, not the whole way through the book. Mark is (at times) despicable and pathetic; Steve is (sometimes) gutless--although I cheered up when he FINALLY told Mark to stop torturing him and either break off the engagement or leave Steve alone; Jack, Steve’s friend, is whiny and selfish; the guys’ co-workers are unbelievably nosy; and Sharon, Steve’s fiancée, is just plain awful.
- Didn’t believe the characters’ attraction for each other. They dislike each other at the beginning. Okay. They can hate each other’s guts and still be attracted to each other, but Hauser never says anything about that. It’s all frostiness and daggers and resentment and disgust…and then they get stranded in the desert one night and it’s cold, and WHAM, they can’t keep their hands off of each other and the next minute they’re having the hottest, dirtiest sex of their lives and they can’t get enough from then on.
- Steve falls in love way too fast. I understand that there are people who fall in love after one date (or, more accurately here, one session of sex), but I simply didn’t believe it this time. At all.
- Mark’s accent (or I suppose I should say ‘vocabulary’) is way off. He has some British heritage, but he was raised in the States, so his English accent is supposedly slight but eloquent. But quite a few of the things he says are more in line with a Cockney (or Irish) accent than the high-sounding English of Eton: he sometimes uses “me” instead of “my,” for example (“He’s me best mate”). And he says “bullocks” numerous times when it should be “bollocks”--plus, I had a hard time believing someone who has lived for years in the States would have held onto such a singularly British curse word.
Overall comments: I didn’t hate it, but I was disappointed in several different aspects of the story. I found the book just mediocre all around.
October 18, 2010
01/18/13: Revised rating after a couple of years of reading m/m: from 3 to 2.
I like fast-food romance! While reading I couldn't stop thinking "this is no good, but I like it". The characters seem impossible: Steve, a hunky, former cop turned executive for an advertising firm, and Mark, the incredibly beautiful, sexy, charming, English new employee in the office. They find themselves competing for the same big and lucrative job and the dislike is immediate. When their firm organise a training camp during which they get lost in the desert, they seek some human heat to survive the night and, boy, do they find it!
Steve falls hard for Mark, and who wouldn't, for once I could picture a character without fearing that it was too handsome. I think that Steve falls too fast for Mark, there's no doubt in his mind that he loves the man, LOVE. But Mark comes with a difficult past, he is in the middle of his wedding planning and he can't accept he's gay. He's so indecisive that it's almost painful to read, the way he tries to handle his life is hysterical to say the least. This is why the two characters didn't seem real: they were like drama queens (Mark probably wrote the book on drama queens), their reactions to what happens to them so over the top, their relationship with the other characters (friends, family, girlfriend) incredibly complicated, based on lies or untruth. But I am ready to forgive them, because I'm shallow and silly and because they were so hot together I got steam in my eyes reading about them. And all we need is love.
If you're looking for depth of feeling and angst, this is _not_ the book for you, but if you need some happy time, go for it!
I like fast-food romance! While reading I couldn't stop thinking "this is no good, but I like it". The characters seem impossible: Steve, a hunky, former cop turned executive for an advertising firm, and Mark, the incredibly beautiful, sexy, charming, English new employee in the office. They find themselves competing for the same big and lucrative job and the dislike is immediate. When their firm organise a training camp during which they get lost in the desert, they seek some human heat to survive the night and, boy, do they find it!
Steve falls hard for Mark, and who wouldn't, for once I could picture a character without fearing that it was too handsome. I think that Steve falls too fast for Mark, there's no doubt in his mind that he loves the man, LOVE. But Mark comes with a difficult past, he is in the middle of his wedding planning and he can't accept he's gay. He's so indecisive that it's almost painful to read, the way he tries to handle his life is hysterical to say the least. This is why the two characters didn't seem real: they were like drama queens (Mark probably wrote the book on drama queens), their reactions to what happens to them so over the top, their relationship with the other characters (friends, family, girlfriend) incredibly complicated, based on lies or untruth. But I am ready to forgive them, because I'm shallow and silly and because they were so hot together I got steam in my eyes reading about them. And all we need is love.
If you're looking for depth of feeling and angst, this is _not_ the book for you, but if you need some happy time, go for it!
April 4, 2011
I actually enjoyed reading this book, until the last part. About halfway into the book, the relationship between the main characters have been established. Kind of. The only sticking point is the fact that one of them, Mark, is engaged to a woman. The rest of the book gives hope that the engagement would be off. Then, in a very important scene, Mark suddenly abandons Steve and decided to continue the engagement, and even proceeded with the wedding!
If actually Ms. Hauser sticks to the wedding till the end, I would be sad but understand that sometimes life is a bittersweet. No. It becomes overtly melodramatic and unbelievable. She let the couple goes before the altar, and at that moment Steve comes in and yell how he loves Mark, beg him not to continue... And, Mark just follows him. This is after a while ago he basically abandoned Steve. If Mark was weak shortly before, when there were only 3-4 people present, we should accept that he's strong now that all money have been spent, family and friends gathered before them, and nothing else changed before the last scene and the wedding? WTF? I don't find this romantic. I find it selfish and inconsiderate to the Nth degree. It's not like Mark found his relationship with the fiancee enjoyable in the first place anyway, or that the engagement was new. It's been a while, and nothing changes. The ending is unnecessarily cheesy and ruins the whole book for me.
I think Ms. Hauser handles the situation in her other book, the Wedding Planner, better.
If actually Ms. Hauser sticks to the wedding till the end, I would be sad but understand that sometimes life is a bittersweet. No. It becomes overtly melodramatic and unbelievable. She let the couple goes before the altar, and at that moment Steve comes in and yell how he loves Mark, beg him not to continue... And, Mark just follows him. This is after a while ago he basically abandoned Steve. If Mark was weak shortly before, when there were only 3-4 people present, we should accept that he's strong now that all money have been spent, family and friends gathered before them, and nothing else changed before the last scene and the wedding? WTF? I don't find this romantic. I find it selfish and inconsiderate to the Nth degree. It's not like Mark found his relationship with the fiancee enjoyable in the first place anyway, or that the engagement was new. It's been a while, and nothing changes. The ending is unnecessarily cheesy and ruins the whole book for me.
I think Ms. Hauser handles the situation in her other book, the Wedding Planner, better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2012
Don't really like either Steve or Mark; though if I have to choose I dislike Mark more. He's pictured as this gorgeous long red hair green-eyed Brit who could charm anyone and everyone with his wits; not to mention accent. But I feel he's a shalow person who hurt people with his indecisiveness! And Steve, who start off as a macho men's man persona lets him get away with it. What's up with that!?
In all honestly though, this is a rather entertaining read, if you overlook the totally Hollywood-like dramatic ending (which makes me dislike Mark even more, and winced at Steve's anticlimatic (to me) character development).
In all honestly though, this is a rather entertaining read, if you overlook the totally Hollywood-like dramatic ending (which makes me dislike Mark even more, and winced at Steve's anticlimatic (to me) character development).
June 3, 2012
Ugh, I have no idea how to rate this. G.A's writing has definitely improved since Miller's Tale, but there are still flaws. However, even with the lame insta-love and pathetically bad sex scenes, I was really enjoying this storyline. Up until 98%, I was actually going with 4* (well, 3.5 because of the aforementioned problems) but the ending?? What kind of corny, overly melodramatic crap is that? Who even writes that into a serious novel? Ugh. Way to ruin the book. Sigh. I guess I'll go with 3 stars as an overall average...
July 31, 2012
I must say I was disappointed with this book. It was just (I'm Sorry) annoying. I didnt like Mark, but that could be because I read When Adam Met Jack first. Steve was Ok. But overall there was just a lot of silly angst. While I understand the pressure that Mark was under, the reasons behind being unable to fess up were not well developed. Urgh! I am so annoyed with the book! 240 odd pages of nothing. Wish I could take back the last few hours.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
fuck-this-dnf-dnr
February 27, 2016This is truly one of the worst books I've read/come across/had the displeasure of reading.
I am really not that critical - if I enjoy it, it doesn't make my eyes roll too much and makes sense. Awesome - 3 stars.
But this... Ugh. I will finish it, just so I can fully write a review on it and maybe prevent some people from having to go through this travesty.
I'm seriously debating a 1 star - kind of momentous since it's been over a year since I've read a book I've disliked this much.
I am really not that critical - if I enjoy it, it doesn't make my eyes roll too much and makes sense. Awesome - 3 stars.
But this... Ugh. I will finish it, just so I can fully write a review on it and maybe prevent some people from having to go through this travesty.
I'm seriously debating a 1 star - kind of momentous since it's been over a year since I've read a book I've disliked this much.
March 13, 2015
The only reason I read this book was out of consideration for the movie.
I thought it was quite simple and the plot was very thin. It's not a book I'd reccommend. It was mediocrely written and the characters were too simple and straight-forward. I did, however, like the African-American element in it.
I thought it was quite simple and the plot was very thin. It's not a book I'd reccommend. It was mediocrely written and the characters were too simple and straight-forward. I did, however, like the African-American element in it.
May 4, 2008
So this was definitely just as cheesy & bad as the first book I read by this author. Again, I enjoyed it for those reasons! Well, and maybe the sex. ;)
Fantastically bad I think. Good stuff!
Fantastically bad I think. Good stuff!
November 25, 2009
Oh dear, far too melodramatic for me!
Read for the Seasonal Reading Challenge Fall 09 task 20.2 (ABCs: C)
Read for the Seasonal Reading Challenge Fall 09 task 20.2 (ABCs: C)
December 13, 2014
That's how I met my favourits character in books, Mark Richfield. He's amazing, full os flaws like all of us, so insecure as anybody else...just perfect :)
July 12, 2011
Really liked it until I reached the ending which I didn't like. The book has a happy ending but in my opinion it's like a bad romantic movie's. Too cliched.
February 8, 2013
I read this book after the Action series and was surprised to see Mark as such a strong character in this book. It was great to see how Mark emerged and became comfortable with his sexuality.
October 28, 2017
Mark is an asshole cheater who can't make up his mind. I was sort of okay with Steve when he decided to get a backbone.
July 31, 2013
I do not give a 1 star rating easily, and it wasnt even because this books was all that badly written. It was just that both MC's were so pathetic I literally kept reading, hoping one of them would redeem themselves. Eventually Steve did the mature responsible thing, but by then it was a little too late for me to connect to him.
Firstly there is absolutely no build up, they go from hating each other,to a night of wild monkey sex.Then we find out Mark has a fiancee, and of course she is just the pits, as per usual with most female characters in this genre. Where it gets a little interesting is that he has a gay room mate who has been in love with him for years, and is more of a wife then his fiancee, however the potential drama did not happen, despite the potential for it. So despite the insta love these 2 MC's have after there night of humping, Mark cant possibly hurt these 2 individuals, because lying to them, and cheating on your fiancee is always so much better.
Despite this, Steve keeps "shagging" Mark until eventually he grows a pair and tries to break it off. Mark being the upstanding guy that he is, does not call off his wedding, oh no, he gets faced, and is at the point of saying "I Do" when Steve stops him by calling out his name.
While this stopping a wedding at the alter works in movies, in this book it did not. Cheating is one thing, but then man up and break it off, especially if you believe your in love with the other person.
I could not connect to these two MC's at all,and that is my biggest complaint about this book. The other major complaint was that there was no intimacy, yes they got it on like bunnies, but there was almost zero sharing of emotions, so I dont know how these two can think they love each other so deeply.
I will not even mention the fact that Mark has the worst English accent, for someone who has lived most of his life in the states, or mention how Steve keeps swearing while working in a corporate job, oh and lets not forget the co-workers who seem to take offense that Steve and Mark are not sharing the details of their personal lives with the office, or Steve outing Mark and himself to an executive, without Mark's consent.
Read at Own Risk
Firstly there is absolutely no build up, they go from hating each other,to a night of wild monkey sex.Then we find out Mark has a fiancee, and of course she is just the pits, as per usual with most female characters in this genre. Where it gets a little interesting is that he has a gay room mate who has been in love with him for years, and is more of a wife then his fiancee, however the potential drama did not happen, despite the potential for it. So despite the insta love these 2 MC's have after there night of humping, Mark cant possibly hurt these 2 individuals, because lying to them, and cheating on your fiancee is always so much better.
Despite this, Steve keeps "shagging" Mark until eventually he grows a pair and tries to break it off. Mark being the upstanding guy that he is, does not call off his wedding, oh no, he gets faced, and is at the point of saying "I Do" when Steve stops him by calling out his name.
While this stopping a wedding at the alter works in movies, in this book it did not. Cheating is one thing, but then man up and break it off, especially if you believe your in love with the other person.
I could not connect to these two MC's at all,and that is my biggest complaint about this book. The other major complaint was that there was no intimacy, yes they got it on like bunnies, but there was almost zero sharing of emotions, so I dont know how these two can think they love each other so deeply.
I will not even mention the fact that Mark has the worst English accent, for someone who has lived most of his life in the states, or mention how Steve keeps swearing while working in a corporate job, oh and lets not forget the co-workers who seem to take offense that Steve and Mark are not sharing the details of their personal lives with the office, or Steve outing Mark and himself to an executive, without Mark's consent.
Read at Own Risk
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2022
You know what they say about the book always being better then the movie? Not with this one. At least with the movie you get chemistry between the two main leads, Mark isn't a total twat, and Steve isn't a total pushover - yeah, they're actually somewhat likeable (though the acting, writing and music is all terrible). Maybe she learned from the reviews?
This book though? It doesn't even have *those* redeeming qualities. The writing is both incredibly awkward and amateur, the characters are overly melodramatic, immature and thoroughly unlikable. Even the sex scenes aren't anywhere close to being good enough to justify the grueling slog just getting there. Also, this woman pushes Mark's supposed attractiveness down our throat to such an extent it's just goofy. Look lady, we don't like him, okay? If you wanted to convince us that he's sort of annoying, but still make us care about him, then you failed. He's unbearable, and no amount of your describing his 'emerald eyes' and 'overpowering charisma' is gonna change that.
Honestly, reading this woman's writing, and discovering that this book is actually meant to demonstrate an *improvement* on her earlier work (that floored me, honestly. hilarious!) only clarifies that literally anyone can write erotica. Anyone. Skill is clearly not a requirement.
The 1 star is for the movie.
This book though? It doesn't even have *those* redeeming qualities. The writing is both incredibly awkward and amateur, the characters are overly melodramatic, immature and thoroughly unlikable. Even the sex scenes aren't anywhere close to being good enough to justify the grueling slog just getting there. Also, this woman pushes Mark's supposed attractiveness down our throat to such an extent it's just goofy. Look lady, we don't like him, okay? If you wanted to convince us that he's sort of annoying, but still make us care about him, then you failed. He's unbearable, and no amount of your describing his 'emerald eyes' and 'overpowering charisma' is gonna change that.
Honestly, reading this woman's writing, and discovering that this book is actually meant to demonstrate an *improvement* on her earlier work (that floored me, honestly. hilarious!) only clarifies that literally anyone can write erotica. Anyone. Skill is clearly not a requirement.
The 1 star is for the movie.
January 23, 2014
The characters in this book are great, When they first meet they're both competing for the same job and basically hate each other. Steve has been working on the acct for 2 years, and when Mark..the new guy shows up and seems to be after the same acct. hes hostile towards him. When they're forced together at a company retreat, they cant deny their mutual attraction. I'm not a big fan of stories that involve cheating. But the way its presented in this story makes it a little easier to take. Mark is engaged, but his fiancé is horrible. His whole life people have accused him of being gay, and he seems to want to get married to prove them all wrong. He and Steve feel so attracted to each other, and Steve has an increasingly hard time of hiding that fact. I really struggled with the fact that Mark was cheating, but I really wanted him to be with Steve because they were so happy together. Great job with that. I liked this book a lot, the writing was good, the story was clear, and the characters were well thought out. The wedding scene was pretty funny, and I loved how it all ended up. I would have liked one more chapter just to see how they dealt with the aftermath. But I guess its better to want more at the end :)
September 17, 2013
Contemporary Office romance with two gay-for-you clueless guys that find passion amidst the boredom during a work team building retreat. I don't have a ton of office work experience, but it is normal to have the co-workers so nosy about people's home lives? Because this must be the nosiest and annoying bunch of coworkers that Steve Miller and the English Mark Richfield in their Californian Advertising company. So there is a bunch of M/M sexy time with various police officier fantacies that Mark has clearly secretly held back from his lady (!) fiance. The time is not good because Mark is supposed to be getting married the next month and he lives with his gay best friend who has been in love with him since their college days. Seems like everyone wants a piece of poor confused Mark. Although Steve has fallen hard and fast with his first boyfriend and is out to keep Mark permanently, Mark has to grow up and tell the truth to the people in his life. Not an easy thing for anyone.
193 pages and bought used for 4$
3 stars
193 pages and bought used for 4$
3 stars
March 3, 2014
3.5 STARS
Well, everything is right in the world now that Mark is no longer straight and has finally admitted he like d- I mean men... Or at least one man in specific, ex-LAPD cop Steve Miller.
Their relationship starts in a very confrontational way when Steve suspects the newcomer Mark is going to take a very important account from his fingertips in the advertisement agency he works. But one night stranded in the desert changes everything for them... But there's a catch, Mark is to be married in a month, and even if he doesn't want Sharon anymore will he have the courage to break it off and be with who he wants or will his sense of honor win and destroy his chance at happiness?
This was quick read, it was funny, sexy, kinky and playful. Yes, character do seem unrealistic in this story, but there's something about Mark's character that just grabs at ya. I adore Steve and Mark together and I will be reading more about them... Just not atm, *sighs* so many books to read.
Well, everything is right in the world now that Mark is no longer straight and has finally admitted he like d- I mean men... Or at least one man in specific, ex-LAPD cop Steve Miller.
Their relationship starts in a very confrontational way when Steve suspects the newcomer Mark is going to take a very important account from his fingertips in the advertisement agency he works. But one night stranded in the desert changes everything for them... But there's a catch, Mark is to be married in a month, and even if he doesn't want Sharon anymore will he have the courage to break it off and be with who he wants or will his sense of honor win and destroy his chance at happiness?
This was quick read, it was funny, sexy, kinky and playful. Yes, character do seem unrealistic in this story, but there's something about Mark's character that just grabs at ya. I adore Steve and Mark together and I will be reading more about them... Just not atm, *sighs* so many books to read.
April 28, 2016
What a disappointment. I loved G.A. Hauser's Naked Dragon, and with this book being turned into a movie, I dove head first into it, only to get stumped half-way through. The book started out okay, and I was enjoying it deeply. However, the book has a theme that I detest:
I'm sorry, but even writing this review is making me mad. It was not the book for me.
I'm sorry, but even writing this review is making me mad. It was not the book for me.
November 24, 2013
This is an amazing love story and Just as great, it is now a Movie!
Way to go GA!! I laughed and cried! The actors chosen for the main characters were spot on and the quality of the film was excellent! You may have told us that this movie was a low budget film but that is so not how it turned out! I loved the whole file including the original music with lyrics written by a very talented authoress!
Capital Games is the first book of Mark and Steves love story, Not only did I laugh and cry during the book I laughed and cried during the movie. It is so wonderful to see an independent author make the jump from the written word to the big screen. It shows how talented and successful Indie authors truly, truly are!
Way to go GA!! I laughed and cried! The actors chosen for the main characters were spot on and the quality of the film was excellent! You may have told us that this movie was a low budget film but that is so not how it turned out! I loved the whole file including the original music with lyrics written by a very talented authoress!
Capital Games is the first book of Mark and Steves love story, Not only did I laugh and cry during the book I laughed and cried during the movie. It is so wonderful to see an independent author make the jump from the written word to the big screen. It shows how talented and successful Indie authors truly, truly are!
January 26, 2014
I am having a hard time rating this one!
I must say I have very conflicting feelings about that one..I don't know I was extremely disappointed. I watched the movie first and thought…"Meeh! well maybe the book will be much better." then I read the book and was farther disappointed! I hated all the Drama and all the crying DROVE ME FREAKING MAD!!! What the heck is wrong!! u're suppose to be two freaking MACHO males!!! It's like they are crying all the time!! and I must say I didn't care much for either Mark nor Steve..and I absolutely hated the last scene! A very hollywood thingie! I don't know what else to say except I am really disappointed and sad cuz I had very high hope for that book and the movie as well! :(
I must say I have very conflicting feelings about that one..I don't know I was extremely disappointed. I watched the movie first and thought…"Meeh! well maybe the book will be much better." then I read the book and was farther disappointed! I hated all the Drama and all the crying DROVE ME FREAKING MAD!!! What the heck is wrong!! u're suppose to be two freaking MACHO males!!! It's like they are crying all the time!! and I must say I didn't care much for either Mark nor Steve..and I absolutely hated the last scene! A very hollywood thingie! I don't know what else to say except I am really disappointed and sad cuz I had very high hope for that book and the movie as well! :(
October 6, 2014
Two and half stars. Strangely readable. Objectively this book has very little going for it. The writing is so weak I wondered if the author is a native speaker of English due to all of the incorrect usages of words and the not exactly wrong, but just kind of weird way words are strung together. The plot is unbelieable and the relationship evolution non-existent. One of the characters, Mark is utterly unlikable and I could not for the life of me figure out what the other character, Steve saw in him.
And still, with all that, I didn't have any trouble finishing the book. And now I have this weird urge to see the movie version, even though it is hard to imagine what exactly it was about this book that made someone want to turn it into one.
And still, with all that, I didn't have any trouble finishing the book. And now I have this weird urge to see the movie version, even though it is hard to imagine what exactly it was about this book that made someone want to turn it into one.
March 14, 2014
Holy smokes. I read this when I first got into MM cause I enjoyed Mark/Sonya and needed to see where it would all lead.
Tonight (13-3-14)I got to watch the DVD, and holy smokes!!! It was like reading the book all over again. I can't believe how the scenes came back fresh to me and it was YEARS since I read the book.
I have made up my mind to revisit my old gang in the G.A. universe (I'm talking Microsoft WORD/HTML dudes).
The month of April will be dedicated to G.A. One book, maybe two a day til I have completed them.
Loved the book, loved the movie!!!
Tonight (13-3-14)I got to watch the DVD, and holy smokes!!! It was like reading the book all over again. I can't believe how the scenes came back fresh to me and it was YEARS since I read the book.
I have made up my mind to revisit my old gang in the G.A. universe (I'm talking Microsoft WORD/HTML dudes).
The month of April will be dedicated to G.A. One book, maybe two a day til I have completed them.
Loved the book, loved the movie!!!
July 27, 2015
This book was just not for me. It felt melodramatic and the dialogue felt a bit clichéd and childish to me. I had a really difficult time with Steve and Mark going from mortal enemies to in a matter of minutes. I just didn't buy it. I didn't care for all of the tears either. Steve is supposed to be a tough, matter-of-fact, hard ass, ex cop. The tears made no sense to me. And finally, This is simply my opinion. Many others have loved this, I wish I could've said the same.
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